The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-11-24
THE BUSINESS or TIE SESSION.
WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, MUST
SOON CONSIDER.

Ssssion-Work Enough to Give the Lrgis
lature Plenty to Do for Some Little Tim
& COLUMBIA, November 19.-The session
of the State Legislature commences 0,
Tuesday next Tho meetings of thi
body have, for some years past, attracted
much attention from the people of thu
State. 1t is safe to say that at no time
has there been moro done in the way O
mapping out work for the General AS
sembly than has been done by writers
speakers and newspapers during the pas
six months. OF course it is not expected
that the Legislature shall consider all The
suggestions offered, to tho extent o.
formulating each in bill to be acted or
in the committee room. But there arc
some matters on which, by general con
sent, the body will be expected to pass
And these matters, with tho miscellanc
GUS business incident to every session,
will keep the two houses busy for the
thirty-thrce days between the day OF
meeting and Christmas. A reassemblina
of the body, after n short holiday, is not
improbable.
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
There has been much discussion touch
ing the establishment Of an agricultural
college, modelled on that of Mississippi,
and altogether distinct from the South
Carolina College,. This matter was dis
cussed Mt considerable length during the
last session; and the Board Of Agricul-
turo were directed to procure infurma-
tion touching the cost and the operation
Of such an institution anti report to The
Legislature. This report will bring The
subject regularly up for discussion, aud,
doubtless, bill for The establishment Of
the college will be up for consideration
AS among the people, SO among their
representatives, there are various opin-
ions on this matter-some urging the
earl y organization Of the proposed col
lege, some favoring, in it's stead, an en-
largemept Of the ''anncx" to the South
Carolina College, and others still hold.
ing that we hud b@st let our State insti-
tutions stand just rs they are. Whatever
the conclusion, tho discussion promises
to be as interesting as the &ubjcCt-mn%ter
is important.
THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The reorganization Of the State de-
partment Of Agriculture was urged utyon
the Legislature by the fnrlneIs' h$So2in-
ton that met here during Fair Week Of
last year. The Legislature did not %N@pt
the suggestion Of TINT body. Thv m3at
radical change proposed is THAT TIE
Board of Agriculture s.lUil ho nominated
Gn effect cho&Cu) by tho State Farm, rs
Association. The powers of the Board
are to be enlarged, and steps taken 70
,JsI
agricultural interests Inc irlehdS OF
the change maintain that 1t Will serve TO
LOpuiarizo the Department and bnnG II
in closer communication with the fam
crs themselves. The opponents contend
that tho Board, as heretofore constituted,
has Gone good work for tho State, and
Ihat the proposed changes will not be
foI tlIe batter.
L 1850 two reforms may be said to con-
stitutc tho leading, if not the onl =, sug-
gent,cns now urged by tie friends Of the
"farmers' movement" The Farmers
Association is to meet here on the lSt
December, and it is expected that tnc
body will take steps to make known 1T
wishes upon both propositions.
In connection with the Department Of
Agricul are it may be proper to mention
that the term OF the incumbent COmmls
sioner of Agriculture, Col. a. Z. Butler
is about to expire, and his successor
must be chosen nt the approaching Ses
sion. 1t is expected that he will 8tnnt
for re. election. Col. NJ. j.. Donaldson
of Grecnville, has been nominated 70
Tie position. The Legislature viii b.
oalled upon to decide between these tw'
and perhaps others also.
THE TAX SYSTEM.
Our laws for the assessment and col
lection of State and county taxes hnv
commanded public attention more Q
less for ton years past The Lcgl9latur
attempted some improvements, but, fine
ing these jnadcqate, referred the matte
to u commission. The commission mad
an elaborate report, but the Act the
recommended was unceremoniOusly xii
ed in the Senate. The necessity fc
some reform suggests itself in tines
forms:
l. The incfliciency of our system (
assessing property for taXation--a lar(
amount of property escaping taxatc
altogether.
2. The complicated procedure for e
/, forcing the payment Of taxes-rcndcriT
it quite sure that no title to proper
sold for taxes will be sustained by t!
Courts.
3. The quantity OF lands already 'Ec
feited" to tho State for non-payment
taxes-tho dclaulhng owncrs nevertl
less, in numbers of cases, retaining th'
possession without paying any taxes
all. The value of these forfeited lant
yielding no revenue to tho State is abb
$3,000,O 0,O00-involving q dead loss
about $780, to the public treasury /
nually.
The Legislature will be urged by
executive department to mako the
laws simple and effective, TO subject
forfeited" property to taxes in futu
and, if possible, to collect all orrcHra2
These arrCarages amount TO about $lC
900. The figures themselves are sire
argument for Improvement, and
General Assembly is expected to make
CEn JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
Perhaps no feataro Of our State 8
\ ernment has Of late Commanded III
attention than our courts Of iuttic
from tho Supreme Court down to
Trial Justices. In the Supreme Ct
Ewo changes will be urgcd-tho incrc
lie II l.. g